Happy Indepawndence Day: 4 Secrets to Help Your Dog with Fourth of July Stress

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this info, free of charge,from OneMind Dogs, for blog posting purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. All opinions are my own


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While you're getting ready for barbecues, parties, and fireworks this 4th of July weekend, your dog might be getting a little stressed!

dog hiding behind fence
Courtesy of Pixabay
 Consider this:  Every year, countless American dogs panic, hide, or even run away on July 4, terrified by the loud fireworks and boisterous barbecues that their humans enjoy so much.  (We've been there! We lost our 2nd best trained hound when she jumped the fence and ran after riders on horses, due to them throwing fireworks!) 

scared dog
Courtesy of Pixabay
For many dogs and dog owners, Independence Day can be an unhappy event that's more stressful than it is fun.
So how can you relax on Independence Day and enjoy the peace of mind that Fido is also calm and safe?

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The dog behavioral experts at OneMind Dogs—a revolutionary dog teaching method out of Finland used by some of the world's top agility trainers and their canine competitors—are sharing some secrets that will help both you and your dog breathe easy on Independence Day. 

*** ONEMIND DOGS' 4 SECRETS TO KEEPING YOUR DOG CALM ON JULY 4 ***

lab and bunny bear
Courtesy of Pixabay

 SECRET #1:  EXUDE A CALM ATTITUDE
Dogs automatically associate the emotion surrounding an experience with the event itself, so if you're alarmed by the fireworks or worried about keeping Fido calm, he will be, too.  If you maintain an upbeat, serene attitude and don't make a big deal out of your dog's nervousness, he will take a cue from you and mirror that behavior.

pair of daschunds
Courtesy of Pixabay
SECRET #2:  LEAD WITH BODY LANGUAGE

While soothing words can help calm your own nerves, body language is what your dog naturally understands and responds to first.  When it comes to our canine pals, non-verbal communication speaks much louder than any words you could possibly say.  Communicate to your pooch that it's okay to hide in a safe place by showing him—not telling him—where to go. 

dog and treats
Courtesy of Pixabay
 SECRET #3:  REASSURE WITH SMALL TREAT PORTIONS 
Reward your dog throughout the day using smaller bits of treats.  After all, he is a real champ for making it through such a loud, exciting holiday!  To keep your dog interested in remaining calm and following your lead, spend time finding which treat works best as an incentive.

bulldog and ball
Courtesy of Pixabay
  Secret #4: GO PREPARED
If you are heading out to a party with your dog, take food and toys—and find out where your dog can go to rest and take a break from all the action.  If you are leaving your dog at home, be sure to give him all the toys and food he needs to make it through the day.  Another pro tip:  Leave one of your unwashed shirts out for him to cuddle up to if he gets nervous.  The familiar smell will help calm him down. 

Marley

I'm excited to try out these great tips to better connect with Marley over the holiday weekend and throughout the summer. I'm really diggin' all the doggy insights OneMind Dogs has to offer.  To find out more regarding training and agility, even for non-sporting dogs, check out their website. 

Happy Indepawndence Day!


fireworks
Courtesy of Pixabay

About OneMind Dogs

OneMind Dogs was developed in 2003, when a top-performing agility dog named Tekla suddenly lost her hearing. From then on, her trainer had to see the world from Tekla's perspective and rely only on physical cues to communicate.  What could have been a crushing road block for Tekla's agility career turned into a groundbreaking way for all dogs and their humans to become better connected. 

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